Electric fluid sterilizer



Jan. 1, 1924 B. W. MACY ELECTRIC FLUID STERILIZER Filed Feb. 2. 1922 in n;

Mi /7 Z2 I :lmwm Barnettw. Macy du u Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

. UNITED STATES BARNETT WRIGHT MACY, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC HEAT- PATENT OFFICE.

ING CORPORATION, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, A CORPORATION OF FLORIDA.

ELECTRIC FLUID STERILIZER.

Application filed February 2, 1922. Serial No. 533,549.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BARNETT WRIGHT MAcY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Fluid Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to a process of sterilizing fluids and an apparatus therefor. It is an object of the invention to provide a method of sterilizing fluids by passing an electric current therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to kill the bacteria in milk by passing an electric current through the milk.

, Another object of the invention is to provide electrical means for sterilizing fluids as above set forth, without overheating the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is an elevation of my device.

Figure 2 is a section of the upper part of the device, and Figure 3 a section of the lower part, the parts shown in the two figures being in the same relative position as in Figure 1.

In the drawings reference character 10 indicates the base or body of the device which may be mounted on any suitable support. This base has a central passage which is enlarged at the upper end to form a shoulder on which .rests a tube 11 of glass or other non-conductor of electricity, a gasket 12 being interposed between the end of the tube and the shoulder. At the upper end of the tube is a second gasket 13 interposed between said end and a shoulder. on a cylindrical member at 14 which at its upper end supports a funnel 15.

A rod 16 is insulated from the casing by means of insulating bushings 17 and 18, this rod forming one terminal for the conductors extending through the tube. A second terminal 19 is supported at the lower end in insulating bushings 20. A pair of coiled Wires 21 and 22 are connected at their ends to yokes 23 each yoke supportin a pin 24. Each pin carries at one end a b ock of insulating material 25. The wire 21 is con nected at its lower end to the bare pin and at its upper end to the upper insulating block 25 while the wire 22 is attached at its upper end to the bare pin and at its lower end to the lower insulating block 25.

A series of rods 26 pass through openings in a flange of member 14 and are threaded at their lower ends for engagement in threaded openings on the block 10, these rods being provided to protect the tube and also to support the parts in the relation shown. A rotary plug 27 having a handle is arranged in block 10 for closing or opening the central passage as desired. Conductors 28 and 29 are adapted to be positioned on terminals 16 and 19 and held in place by the nuts 30. It may be noted also that the terminals have notches at their remote sides to position the yolljes 23 and centralize the conductors in the tu e.

In the use of my device the milk or other fluid to be sterilized is poured into the funnel 15 filling the tube 11. The current is then turned on through the wires 28 and 29, a suitable switch being provided in the circuit for turning the current ofl' and on.

When the current is on it will pass through the fluid from one wire to the other, it being evident that the ends of the wires are insulated from one another. The passage of the current acts to kill bacteria in the fluid and when this process has been carried suflicientlyfar the current is turned ofl and the plug 27 is turned to allow the fluid to run out after which a fresh charge may be sterilized.

In some instances it may be possible to sterilize a continuously moving stream of fluid by proper proportioning and arrangement of the wires and the conduit through which the liquid passes. ,The apparatus may also be modified in various other ways, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, the true scope of which is shown in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

'1. An apparatus of sterilizing fluids comprising a container having a vertically extending tubular section, terminals supported at'opposite ends thereof and a pair of conductors within the tubular section and connected to said terminals, said conductors comprising a pair of coiled wires the helices of one wire surrounding and spaced 1 from the other, substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids com- I prising a container having a bored out base member enlarged at the top to receive a dispensing valve mechanism, a terminal housed within the base member above the valve mechanism and extending horizontally across the bore, a cylindrical member formed at its upper end with a funnel and having a bore concentric and with and of similar diameter to that of the said base member, a second terminal housed within the cylindrical member insulated therefrom and also extending across the bore thereof, a tube of insulating material having a bore corresponding to the other said bores and adapted to form a connection therebetween, a yoke secured to each contact member, a pin carried by each yoke having at one end a block of insulating material, a coiled wire connecting a pin on one yoke and an insulating block on the other yoke and extending through the bore of the said tube and a second wire connecting the other pin and block said wire being coiled around and spaced from the first said wire, substantially as set forth.

3. An apparatus for sterilizing fluids comprising a casing formed with a lower base member having a cylindrical bore, an upper cylindrical member having a bore corresponding to that of the lower base member, a tube whose bore is similar to those of the said upper and lower members and forming a connection therebetween, a funnel mounted upon the top of the upper cylindrical memher, a contact bar extending across the bore of each of said upper and lower members, a pair of coiled wires connecting said bars and spaced from each other one of the wires being coiled around the other, substantially as set forth.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Jacksonville, Florida, this th day of January, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-two.

BARNETT WRIGHT MACY. [1..s.]

Witnesses:

'Es'rHER GATLIN,

WILL P. HOWARD, Jr. 

